Soluble and immunoreactive Zika virus NS1 polypeptides comprising the wing domain

ABSTRACT

The disclosure concerns a polypeptide suitable for detecting antibodies against Zika virus in an isolated biological sample having a Zika virus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence and variants thereof, wherein no further Zika virus specific amino acid sequences are present in the polypeptide. This polypeptide does not immunologically cross-react with antibodies raised against structurally related antigens from tick-borne encephalitis virus, Dengue virus 1-4, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus or Japanese encephalitis virus, but immunologically reacts with antibodies raised against full length Zika virus NS1 antigen. Also disclosed is a method of producing a soluble and immunoreactive Zika virus NS1 polypeptide as well as methods and kits for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in an isolated sample.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/EP2018/060330 filed Apr. 23, 2018, which claims priority to European Application No. 17168197.6 filed Apr. 26, 2017, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Zika virus is an arbovirus (arthropod-borne virus, i.e. virus transmitted by arthropod vectors such as insects) that belongs to the Flaviviridae family of viruses and is spread by the Egyptian and the Asian mosquito strains Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus. In the years 2013 and 2014, the incidence of Zika infections in French Polynesia escalated, followed by large outbreaks in Latin America since 2015, peaking epidemic-like at the time around the Olympic Games in Brazil in 2016. So far, efficacious medical treatment or vaccination is lacking. In healthy persons an infection with Zika virus usually leads to no or only mild symptoms. However, for pregnant women the situation is different. The Zika virus can be transmitted from a pregnant woman to her unborn child and is suspected to cause severe brain malformations and defects such as microcephaly. Microcephaly (derived from Greek for “small head”) is a condition in which a baby's brain does not develop properly, and thus its head has a smaller size than normal. Infection in adults may lead to the so-called Guillan-Barré syndrome (muscle weakness caused by the immune system which attacks the peripheral nervous system). Efficacious medical treatment after infection is lacking. In order to receive timely supportive treatment it is crucial to know if a patient has been infected with Zika virus. In particular, highly specific immunoassays are utterly needed in regions with high prevalence of multiple flaviviral infections. As a matter of course, it is a daunting task to reliably diagnose, e.g., a recent Zika infection in an individual that has undergone other flaviviral infections such as Dengue or yellow fever in the past and whose serum is characterized by polyclonal antibodies against the main immunogens of Dengue and yellow fever virus.

Therefore, apart from a vaccination and medication development strategy, also highly sensitive and specific serological diagnostics need to be developed in order to reliably confirm or rule out an infection of a patient with Zika virus. Since 2016 a couple of ELISA-based immunoassays detecting antibodies against the Zika virus NS1 antigen are commercially available (e.g. Huzly et al., Euro Surveill. 2016; 21 (16) pii=30203, 1-4). However, these assays are suspected to cross-react with antibodies that have been raised against related viruses such as Dengue virus and other arboviruses that belong to the family of flaviviruses like West Nile virus, yellow fever virus, tick-borne encephalitis virus (FSME) or Japanese encephalitis virus. This cross-reactivity would lead to false positive results and erroneous interpretation of a patient's immune status and seems to be due to the structural and sequence homologies of Zika NS1 (non-structural antigen) and its counterparts in other flaviviruses such as West Nile and Dengue viruses (Hilgenfeld 27 Oct. 2016, Embo J. 1-3).

It is conceivable that the incidence and prevalence data that have been reported for the Zika epidemic in Brazil in 2015/2016, have suffered the flaw of an exaggeration bias due to the limited specificity of the immunoassays that have been used at the time. In order to evaluate prevalence and incidence data and to assess the objective risk of an emerging epidemic, clear-cut diagnostics are an indispensable prerequisite. Serologic assays with poor specificity would overemphasize the extent of an epidemic and therefore lead to panic-driven decisions not only by the authorities, but also by unsettled and frightened individuals. For instance, it has been reported that the number of abortions in Brazil has significantly increased in the wake of the medial reporting on the true or ostensible Zika epidemic.

The crystal structure of full-length, glycosylated NS1 from West Nile and Dengue virus has been solved at high resolution and reveals distinct domains and a rather complex protein topology (Akey et al., Science (2014; 343 (6173): 881-885). Recently, the crystal structure of a C-terminal fragment (amino acid residues 172-352) of the Zika virus nonstructural protein 1 (NS1) has been published, revealing a head-to-head dimer and confirming the oligomeric character of NS1 (Song et al. Nature Struct. Mol. Biol. 2016 (23) 5, 456-459). In addition, the complete three-dimensional structure of full-length Zika virus NS1 has been published by Brown et al. Nature Struct. Mol. Biol. 2016 (23) 9, 865-868, describing the NS1 structure in further detail. Thus, NS1 turns out to be a very intricate and complex protein due to its oligomeric state, its glycosylation pattern and its abundance in cysteine residues. Publications on dedicated Zika antigens for diagnostic purposes are therefore scarce, and reliable information on linear or conformational B-cell epitopes that are unique in Zika antigens and would allow for a clear-cut discrimination between Zika virus and related flaviviruses have not been available so far.

International patent applications WO2017/144173 and WO2017/144173 describe variants of the full length Zika NS1 antigen of 352 amino acids, listing several essential epitopes, wherein a ß-ladder domain epitope (positions 322 to 326) in the C-terminal part of the NS1 antigen is regarded as essential for reactivity.

The problem underlying the invention therefore is the limited specificity of the hitherto available immunoassays detecting antibodies against Zika virus. The problem is solved by the current invention as specified in the claims.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a polypeptide, and its use in immunoassays, that is suitable for detecting antibodies against Zika virus in an isolated biological sample comprising a Zika virus NS1 domain specific amino acid sequence and variants thereof, wherein no amino acid sequences from the Zika virus NS1 ß-ladder domain are present in said polypeptide. In an embodiment said Zika virus NS1 domain specific amino acid sequence consists essentially of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2. In another embodiment, no further Zika virus specific amino acid sequences are present in said polypeptide. This polypeptide does not immunologically cross-react with antibodies raised against structurally related antigens from tick-borne encephalitis virus comprising NS1 polypeptides of Dengue virus 1-4, West Nile virus, yellow fever virus or Japanese encephalitis virus, but immunologically reacts with antibodies raised against full length Zika virus NS1 antigen according to SEQ ID NO:3.

In an embodiment, this polypeptide does not immunologically cross-react with antibodies raised against structurally related antigens from tick-borne encephalitis virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:5 or 6, and/or from Dengue virus 1-4 comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:7 to 14, and/or from West Nile virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:15 or 16, and/or from yellow fever virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:17 or 18, and/or from Japanese encephalitis virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:19 to 20, but immunologically reacts with antibodies raised against full length Zika virus NS1 antigen according to SEQ ID NO:3.

Also disclosed is a method of producing a soluble and immunoreactive Zika virus NS1 polypeptide as well as methods for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in an isolated sample using a Zika virus NS1 polypeptide as described above as binding partner for anti-Zika virus antibodies. These methods detect either IgG or IgM class antibodies or both. Further disclosed is the use of said NS1 Zika virus polypeptide in an in vitro diagnostic test for detecting anti-Zika virus antibodies.

Further aspects are reagent kits for the detection of anti-Zika virus antibodies, comprising a Zika virus polypeptide as specified before.

Another aspect is a method for detecting antibodies against a Zika virus in an isolated biological sample presumed to contain antibodies against at least one other non-Zika flavivirus, by using a Zika virus NS1 polypeptide comprising a complete or partial sequence of the ß-ladder domain as specific binding partner, wherein the cross-reactivity against said non-Zika flavivirus is eliminated by adding a polypeptide comprising the NS1 ß-ladder domain of said Zika virus in an unlabeled form, in an embodiment adding said polypeptide comprising the ß-ladder domain as a quencher.

Legend to the Disclosed Amino Acid Sequences

The mature NS1 protein comprises 352 amino acid residues (NS1, 1-352). Within the NS1 protein, the wing domain comprises 151 amino acid residues and spans the NS1 amino acid region 30-180. Thus, the wing domain positions (1-151) easily translate into the NS1 numbering by adding 29 amino acid positions. Vice versa, the NS1 amino acid positions easily translate into wing domain numbering by subtracting as many as 29 amino acid positions; aa 1 (wing)=aa 30 (NS1), aa 2 (wing)=aa 31 (NS1), aa 3 (wing)=aa 32 (NS1) and so forth. In an analogous way the ß-ladder domain positions (1-162) easily translate into the NS1 numbering by adding 190 amino acid positions as the NS1 positions 191-352 correspond to the ß-ladder domain.

SEQ ID NO: 1 Zika virus NS1 wing domain aa 30-180 with position 179 X = A or S or C DRYKYHPDSP RRLAAAVKQA WEEGICGISS VSRMENIMWK SVEGELNAIL EENGVQLTVV VGSVKNPMWR GPQRLPVPVN ELPHGWKAWG KSYFVRAAKT NNSFVVDGDT LKECPLKHRA WNSFLVEDHG FGVFHTSVWL KVREDYSLE X  D, SEQ ID NO: 2 Zika virus NS1 wing domain aa30-180 with C55, C143, C179A DRYKYHPDSP RRLAAAVKQA WEEGICGISS VSRMENIMWK SVEGELNAIL EENGVQLTVV VGSVKNPMWR GPQRLPVPVN ELPHGWKAWG KSYFVRAAKT NNSFVVDGDT LKECPLKHRA WNSFLVEDHG FGVFHTSVWL KVREDYSLEA D, SEQ ID NO: 3 Zika virus NS1 full length aa 1-352; this sequence is also published as strain MR 766, UniProt ID W8Q7Q3; the corresponding numbering within the full length Zika precursor polyprotein is aa 795-1146 DVGCSVDFSK RETRCGTGVF IYNDVEAWRD RYKYHPDSPR RLAAAVKQAW EEGICGISSV SRMENIMWKS VEGELNAILE ENGVQLTVVV GSVKNPMWRG PQRLPVPVNG LPHGWKAWGK SYFVRAAKTN NSFVVDGDTL KECPLKHRAW NSFLVEDHGF GVFHTSVWLK VREDYSLECD PAVIGTAVKG REAAHSDLGY WIESEKNDTW RLKRAHLIEM KTCEWPKSHT LWTDGVEESD LIIPKSLAGP LSHHNTREGY RTQVKGPWHS EELEIRFEEC PGTKVHVEET CGTRGPSLRS TTASGRVIEE WCCRECTMPP LSFRAKDGCW YGMEIRPRKE PESNLVRSMV TA, SEQ ID NO: 4 Zika virus NS1 β-ladder domain aa 191-352 REAAHSDLGY WIESEKNDTW RLKRAHLIEM KTCEWPKSHT LWTDGVEESD LIIPKSLAGP LSHHNTREGY RTQVKGPWHS EELEIRFEEC PGTKVHVEET CGTRGPSLRS TTASGRVIEE WCCRECTMPP LSFRAKDGCW YGMEIRPRKE PESNLVRSMV TA, SEQ ID NO: 5 Tick-borne encephalitis (FSME) virus NS1 wing domain aa 30-180 according to UniProt ID P14336; European subtype strain Neudoerfl; X = A or C or S DNYAYYPETP GALASAIKET FEEGSCGVVP QNRLEMAMWR SSVTELNLAL AEGEANLTVV VDKFDPTDYR GGVPGLLKKG KDIKVSWKSW GHSMIWSIPE APRRFMVGTE GQSECPLERR KTGVFTVAEF GVGLRTKVFL DFRQEPTHE X  D, SEQ ID NO: 6: Tick-borne encephalitis (FSME) virus NS1 full length aa 777-1128 according to UniProt ID P14336; European subtype strain Neudoerfl; 352 amino acids DVGCAVDTER MELRCGEGLV VWREVSEWYD NYAYYPETPG ALASAIKETF EEGSCGVVPQ NRLEMAMWRS SVTELNLALA EGEANLTVVV DKFDPTDYRG GVPGLLKKGK DIKVSWKSWG HSMIWSIPEA PRRFMVGTEG QSECPLERRK TGVFIVAEFG VGLRTKVFLD FRQEPTHECD TGVMGAAVKN GMAIHTDQSL WMRSMKNDTG TYIVELLVTD LRNCSWPASH TIDNADVVDS ELFLPASLAG PRSWYNRIPG YSEQVKGPWK YTPIRVIREE CPGTTVTINA KCDKRGASVR STTESGKVIP EWCCRACTMP PVTFRTGTDC WYAMEIRPVH DQGGLVRSMV VA SEQ ID NO: 7 Dengue virus type 1 NS1 wing domain aa 30-180;  X = A or C or S EQYKFQADSP KRLSAAIGKA WEEGVCGIRS ATRLENIMWK QISNELNHIL LENDMKFTVV VGDVAGILAQ GKKMIRPQPM EHKYSWKSWG KAKIIGADVQ NTTFIIDGPN TPECPDDQRA WNIWEVEDYG FGIFTTNIWL KLRDSYTQV X  D, SEQ ID NO: 8 Dengue virus type 1 NS1 full length aa 776-1127 according to UniProt ID W8FUV0, 352 amino acids DSGCVINWKG RELKCGSGIF VTNEVHTWTE QYKFQADSPK RLSAAIGKAW EEGVCGIRSA TRLENIMWKQ ISNELNHILL ENGMKFTVVV GEVNGILAQG KKMIRPQPME HKYSWKSWGK AKVIGADVQN TTFIIDGPNT PECPDDQRAW NIWEVEDYGF GIFTTNIWLK LRDSYTQVCD HRLMSAAIKD SKAVHADMGY WIESEKNETW KLARASFIEV KTCIWPKSHT LWSNGVLESE MIIPKIYGGP ISQHNYRPGY FTQTAGPWHL GKLELDFELC EGTTVVVDEH CGNRGPSLRT TTVTGKIIHE WCCRSCTLPP LRFKGEDGCW YGMEIRPVKE KEENLVKSMV SA, SEQ ID NO: 9 Dengue virus type 2 NS1 wing domain aa 30-180; X = A or C or S EQYKFQPESP SKLASAIQKA HEEGICGIRS VTRLENLMWK QITPELNHIL SENEVKLTIM TGDIKGIMQA GKRSLRPQPT ELKYSWKTWG KAKMLSTESH NQTFLIDGPE TAECPNTNRA WNSLEVEDYG FGVFTTNIWL KLKEKQDVF X  D, SEQ ID NO: 10 Dengue virus type 2 NS1 full length aa 776-1127 according to UniProt ID P29990, strain Thailand/16881/1984, 352 amino acids DSGCVVSWKN KELKCGSGIF ITDNVHTWTE QYKFQPESPS KLASAIQKAH EEGICGIRSV TRLENLMWKQ ITPELNHILS ENEVKLTIMT GDIKGIMQAG KRSLRPQPTE LKYSWKTWGK AKMLSTESHN QTFLIDGPET AECPNTNRAW NSLEVEDYGF GVFTTNIWLK LKEKQDVFCD SKLMSAAIKD NRAVHADMGY WIESALNDTW KIEKASFIEV KNCHWPKSHT LWSNGVLESE MIIPKNLAGP VSQHNYRPGY HTQITGPWHL GKLEMDFDFC DGTTVVVTED CGNRGPSLRT TTASGKLITE WCCRSCTLPP LRYRGEDGCW YGMEIRPLKE KEENLVNSLV TA, SEQ ID NO: 11 Dengue virus type 3 NS1 wing domain aa 30-180; X = A or C or S) EQYKFQADSP KRLATAIAGA WENGVCGIRS TTRMENLLWK QIANELNYIL WENNIKLTVV VGDIIGILEQ GKRTLTPQPM ELKYSWKTWG KAKIVTAETQ NSSFIIDGPN TPECPNASRA WNVWEVEDYG FGVFTTNIWL KLREMYSQL X  D, SEQ ID NO: 12 Dengue virus type 3 NS1 full length aa 774-1125 according to UniProt ID W8FRG8, 352 amino acids DMGCVINWKG KELKCGSGIF VTNEVHTWTE QYKFQADSPK RLATAIAGAW ENGVCGIRST TRMENLLWRQ IANELNYILW ENNIKLTVVV GDIIGILEQG KRTLTPQPME LKYSWKTWGK AKIVTAETQN SSFIIDGPNT PECPNASRAW NVWEVEDYGF GVFTTNIWLK LREMYSQLCD HRLMSAAVKD ERAVHADMGY WIESQKNGSW KLEKASLIEV KTCTWPKSHT LWSNGVLESD MIIPKSLAGP ISQHNYRPGY HTQTAGPWHL GKLELDFNYC EGTTVVITEN CGTRGPSLRT TTVSGKLIHE WCCRSCTLPP LRYMGEDGCW YGMEIRPINE KEENMVKSLV SA, SEQ ID NO: 13 Dengue virus type 4 NS1 wing domain aa 30-180; X = A or C or S) EQYKFQPESP ARLASAILNA HKDGVCGIRS TTRLENIMWK QITNELNYVL WEGGHDLTVV AGDVKGVLTK GKRALTPPVN DLKYSWKTWG KAKIFTPEAR NSTFLIDGPD TSECPNERRA WNFFEVEDYG FGMFTTNIWM KFREGSSEV X  D, SEQ ID NO: 14 Dengue virus type 4 NS1 full length aa 775-1126 according to UniProt ID Q58HT7, strain Philippines/H241/1956, 352 amino acids DTGCAVSWSG KELKCGSGIF VIDNVHTWTE QYKFQPESPA RLASAILNAH EDGVCGIRST TRLENIMWKQ ITNELNYVLW EGGHDLIVVA GDVKGVLSKG KRALAPPVND LKYSWKTWGK AKIFTPEAKN STFLIDGPDT SECPNERRAW NFLEVEDYGF GMFTTNIWMK FREGSSEVCD HRLMSAAIKD QKAVHADMGY WIESSKNQTW QIEKASLIEV KTCLWPKTHT LWSNGVLESQ MLIPKAYAGP FSQHNYRQGY ATQTVGPWHL GKLEIDFGEC PGTTVTIQED CDHRGPSLRT TTASGKLVTQ WCCRSCTMPP LRFLGEDGCW YGMEIRPLSE KEENMVKSQV SA, SEQ ID NO: 15 West-Nile virus NS1 wing domain aa 30-180; X = A or C or S DRYKFYPETP QGLAKIIQKA HAEGVCGLRS VSRLEHQMWE AIKDELNTLL KENGVDLSVV VEKQNGMYKA APKRLAATTE KLEMGWKAWG KSIIFAPELA NNTFVIDGPE TEECPTANRA WNSMEVEDFG FGLTSTRMFL RIRETNTTE X  D, SEQ ID NO: 16 West-Nile virus NS1 full length aa 788-1139 according to UniProt ID P06935, 352 amino acids DTGCAIDIGR QELRCGSGVF IHNDVEAWMD RYKFYPETPQ GLAKIIQKAH AEGVCGLRSV SRLEHQMWEA IKDELNTLLK ENGVDLSVVV EKQNGMYKAA PKRLAATTEK LEMGWKAWGK SIIFAPELAN NTFVIDGPET EECPTANRAW NSMEVEDFGF GLTSTRMFLR IRETNTTECD SKIIGTAVKN NMAVHSDLSY WIESGLNDTW KLERAVLGEV KSCTWPETHT LWGDGVLESD LIIPITLAGP RSNHNRRPGY KTQNQGPWDE GRVEIDFDYC PGTTVTISDS CEHRGPAART TTESGKLITD WCCRSCTLPP LRFQTENGCW YGMEIRPTRH DEKTLVQSRV NA, SEQ ID NO: 17 Yellow fever virus NS1 wing domain aa 30-180; X  = A or C or S NKYSYYPEDP VKLASIVKAS FEEGKCGLNS VDSLEHEMWR SRADEINAIF EENEVDISVV VQDPKNVYQR GTHPFSRIRD GLQYGWKTWG KNLVFSPGRK NGSFIIDGKS RKECPFSNRV WNSFQIEEFG TGVFTTRVYM DAVFEYTID X  D, SEQ ID NO: 18 Yellow fever virus NS1 full length aa 779-1130 according to UniProt ID P03314, strain 17D vaccine, 352 amino acids DQGCAINFGK RELKCGDGIF IFRDSDDWLN KYSYYPEDPV KLASIVKASF EEGKCGLNSV DSLEHEMWRS RADEINAIFE ENEVDISVVV QDPKNVYQRG THPFSRIRDG LQYGWKTWGK NLVFSPGRKN GSFIIDGKSR KECPFSNRVW NSFQIEEFGT GVFTTRVYMD AVFEYTIDCD GSILGAAVNG KKSAHGSPTF WMGSHEVNGT WMIHTLEALD YKECEWPLTH TIGTSVEESE MFMPRSIGGP VSSHNHIPGY KVQTNGPWMQ VPLEVKREAC PGTSVIIDGN CDGRGKSTRS TTDSGKVIPE WCCRSCTMPP VSFHGSDGCW YPMEIRPRKT HESHLVRSWV TA, SEQ ID NO: 19 Japanese encephalitis virus NS1 wing domain aa 30-180; X = A or C or S DRYKYLPETP RSLAKIVHKA HKEGVCGVRS VTRLEHQMWE AVRDELNVLL KENAVDLSVV VNKPVGRYRS APKRLSMTQE KFEMGWKAWG KSILFAPELA NSTFVVDGPE TKECPDEHRA WNSMQIEDFG FGITSTRVWL KIREESTDE X  D, SEQ ID NO: 20 Japanese encephalitis virus NS1 full length aa 795-1146 according to UniProt ID Q9YJ16, 352 amino acids DTGCAIDITR KEMRCGSGIF VHNDVEAWVD RYKYLPETPR SLAKIVHKAH KEGVCGVRSV TRLEHQMWEA VRDELNVLLK ENAVDLSVVV NKPVGRYRSA PKRLSMTQEK FEMGWKAWGK SILFAPELAN STFVVDGPET KECPDEHRAW NSMQIEDFGF GITSTRVWLK IREESTDECD GAIIGTAVKG HVAVHSDLSY WIESRYNDTW KLERAVFGEV KSCTWPETHT LWGDGVEESE LIIPHTIAGP KSKHNRREGY KTQNQGPWDE NGIVLDFDYC PGTKVTITED CGKRGPSVRT TTDSGKLITD WCCRSCSLPP LRFRTENGCW YGMEIRPVRH DEATLVRSQV DA, SEQ ID NO: 21 Fusion protein of tandem E. coli SlyD with Zika virus NS1 wing domain aa 30-180 MKVAKDLVVS LAYQVRTEDG VLVDESPVSA PLDYLHGHGS LISGLETALE GHEVGDKFDV AVGANDAYGQ YDENLVQRVP KDVFMGVDEL QVGMRFLAET DQGPVPVEIT AVEDDHVVVD GNHMLAGQNL KFNVEVVAIR EATEEELAHG HVHGAHDHHH DHDHDGGGSG GGSGGGSGGG SGGGSGGGKV AKDLVVSLAY QVRTEDGVLV DESPVSAPLD YLHGHGSLIS GLETALEGHE VGDKFDVAVG ANDAYGQYDE NLVQRVPKDV FMGVDELQVG MRFLAETDQG PVPVEITAVE DDHVVVDGNH MLAGQNLKFN VEVVAIREAT EEELAHGHVH GAHDHHHDHD HDGGGSGGGS GGGSGGGSGG GSGGGDRYKY HPDSPRRLAA AVKQAWEEGI CGISSVSRME NIMWKSVEGE LNAILEENGV QLTVVVGSVK NPMWRGPQRL PVPVNELPHG WKAWGKSYFV RAAKTNNSFV VDGDTLKECP LKHRAWNSFL VEDHGFGVFH TSVWLKVRED YSLEADLEHH HHHH, SEQ ID NO: 22 Fusion protein of tandem E. coli SlyD with Zika virus NS1 β-ladder domain (aa 191-352, strain Mr 766) MKVAKDLVVS LAYQVRTEDG VLVDESPVSA PLDYLHGHGS LISGLETALE GHEVGDKFDV AVGANDAYGQ YDENLVQRVP KDVFMGVDEL QVGMRFLAET DQGPVPVEIT AVEDDHVVVD GNHMLAGQNL KFNVEVVAIR EATEEELAHG HVHGAHDHHH DHDHDGGGSG GGSGGGSGGG SGGGSGGGKV AKDLVVSLAY QVRTEDGVLV DESPVSAPLD YLHGHGSLIS GLETALEGHE VGDKFDVAVG ANDAYGQYDE NLVQRVPKDV FMGVDELQVG MRFLAETDQG PVPVEITAVE DDHVVVDGNH MLAGQNLKFN VEVVAIREAT EEELAHGHVH GAHDHHHDHD HDGGGSGGGS GGGSGGGSGG GSGGGREAAH SDLGYWIESE KNDTWRLKRA HLIEMKTAEW PKSHTLWTDG VEESDLIIPK SLAGPLSHHN TREGYRTQVK GPWHSEELEI RFEECPGTKV YVEETCGTRG PSLRSTTASG RVIEEWCCRE CTMPPLSFRA KDGCWYGMEI RPRKEPESNL VRSMVTALEH HHHHH, SEQ ID NO: 23 Fusion protein of E. coli SlyD with Zika virus NS1 β-ladder domain (aa 191-352, strain Mr 766) MKVAKDLVVS LAYQVRTEDG VLVDESPVSA PLDYLHGHGS LISGLETALE GHEVGDKFDV AVGANDAYGQ YDENLVQRVP KDVFMGVDEL QVGMRFLAET DQGPVPVEIT AVEDDHVVVD GNHMLAGQNL KFNVEVVAIR EATEEELAHG HVHGAHDHHH DHDHDGGGSG GGSGGGSGGG SGGGSGGGRE AAHSDLGYWI ESEKNDTWRL KRAHLIEMKT AEWPKSHTLW TDGVEESDLI IPKSLAGPLS HHNTREGYRT QVKGPWHSEE LEIRFEECPG TKVYVEETCG TRGPSLRSTT ASGRVIEEWC CRECTMPPLS FRAKDGCWYG MEIRPRKEPE SNLVRSMVTA LEHHHHHH,

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Currently available ELISA format immunoassays for detecting anti-Zika virus antibodies employ an NS1 antigen as immunoreactive reagent. However, we find that these assays lack specificity, leading to a fairly high number of false positive results. Surprisingly, by confining the Zika NS1 antigen to its wing domain as explained further below, the number of erroneously reactive samples can be considerably reduced while the high sensitivity of the assay is maintained.

When samples positive for anti-Zika virus antibodies were tested with two different fragments of the NS1 antigen of Zika, i.e. with the so-called “wing” domain antigen and the so-called “ß-ladder” domain antigen it became evident that both antigens are able to detect anti-Zika antibodies. However, we found out that the wing domain antigen does not cross-react with Dengue antibody positive samples whereas the Zika NS1 ß-ladder domain antigen does cross-react with Dengue antibody positive samples, leading to false positive results and to erroneous conclusions. Additional blocking experiments with anti-Zika positive sera and NS1 antigens of related arboviruses conclusively show that the Zika NS1 wing domain antigen signal can hardly be quenched by these related arboviral NS1 antigens whereas the Zika NS1 ß-ladder domain antigen signal is quenched significantly. We infer that the ß-ladder antigen is considerably blocked from binding to the immunoglobulins by the competing related arboviral NS1 antigens. Thus, we were able to show that the Zika NS1 wing domain antigen is less susceptible to immunological cross-reactivity with other arboviral NS1 homologues. As a consequence, the Zika NS1 wing domain enables an immunoassay for anti-Zika antibodies with superior specificity that is capable of diagnosing Zika virus infections in the presence of other (recent or past) arbovirus infections, in an embodiment discriminating Zika virus infections from Dengue virus infections.

The invention therefore concerns a polypeptide suitable for detecting antibodies against Zika virus in an isolated biological sample comprising a Zika antigen with a Zika virus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence wherein no amino acid sequences from the Zika virus NS1 ß-ladder domain are present in said polypeptide. In an embodiment, no further Zika virus NS1 specific amino acid sequences are present in this polypeptide, in an embodiment no further Zika virus specific amino acid sequences are present in said polypeptide. In an embodiment, said Zika virus NS1 domain specific amino acid sequence consists essentially of SEQ ID NOs. 1 or 2, in an embodiment consists of SEQ ID NOs 1 or 2. In particular, no amino acid sequences from the C-terminal so-called ß-ladder domain are present in the polypeptide of the invention. In an embodiment SEQ ID NO:4 is not present in said polypeptide.

In an embodiment, the invention concerns the use of said polypeptide in an immunoassay method for detecting anti-Zika virus antibodies.

The term “Zika virus” is equivalent to the shorter forms “Zika” or “ZIKV”; these acronyms refer to the same virus.

The terms “NS1”, “NS1 antigen”, NS1 polypeptide” are used synonymously and refer to the non-structural antigen no. 1 within the viral precursor polyprotein and relate (unless specified differently) to the full length antigen NS1. The structure of this protein has been described for West Nile virus and Dengue virus 2 in Akey et al, supra. For Zika NS1 the structure of the C-terminal domain (amino acid residues 172-352) has been described by Song et al. (supra) and the complete NS1 three-dimensional structure has been described in further detail by Brown et al. (supra). The Zika NS1 sequence comprises 352 amino acids and is shown in SEQ ID NO: 3. The term “NS1 wing” or “NS1 wing domain”, “variant of NS1 wing” or “NS1 wing region” refers to a domain within the NS1 polypeptide and is therefore a partial sequence of NS1. For the Zika NS1 wing domain this is exemplified in SEQ ID NOs:1 and 2. Also the terms “polypeptide”, “polypeptides”, “antigen” and “antigens” are understood as synonyms unless further specified.

The synonymous terms “ß-ladder”, “ß-ladder domain” or “ladder tip antigen” or “ladder tip”, “ladder tip domain”, “ladder tip polypeptide”, “ladder tip antigen” refer to a NS1 domain located C-terminally adjacent to the wing domain. This domain has been described for West Nile virus and Dengue virus 2 in Akey et al, supra. For Zika virus this NS1 domain has been described by Song et al., supra, and Brown et al., supra. For the Zika NS1 ß-ladder domain the amino acid sequence is exemplified in SEQ ID NO:4.

These definitions are applicable to all arboviruses within this specification. The following arboviruses that belong to the flavivirus family can be abbreviated as follows: West Nile virus (West Nile, WNV), tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV or FSME), Dengue virus 1-4 (Dengue, the four virus strains of Dengue: DENV 1-4), yellow fever virus (YFV), Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV).

According to the invention, a Zika virus NS1 domain specific amino acid sequence is an amino acid sequence wherein no amino acid sequences from the Zika virus NS1 ß-ladder domain are present in said polypeptide. In an embodiment, no further Zika virus specific amino acid sequences are present in such polypeptide. For example a Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide contains only a wing domain sequence, in an embodiment contains SEQ ID NOs. 1 or 2. In an embodiment, SEQ ID NO:4 is not present in said polypeptide sequence. In another embodiment, no further Zika virus specific amino acid sequences are present in this sequence. The absence of NS1 ß-ladder domain specific sequences and in an embodiment the absence of further Zika NS1 specific sequences or of further Zika specific sequences supports the aim to either reduce or completely avoid cross-reactivities with antibodies raised against other arboviruses.

However, variants of the Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide are encompassed as well. These variants may easily be created by a person skilled in the art by conservative or homologous substitutions of the disclosed amino acid sequences (such as e.g. substitutions of a cysteine by alanine or serine, or substitutions of isoleucine by valine, or vice versa). The term “variants” in this context also relates to a protein or a protein fragment (i.e. a polypeptide or peptide) substantially similar to said protein. For example, modifications such as C- or N-terminal truncations at one end or at both ends by 1 to 10 amino acids, in an embodiment by 1 to 5 amino acids, are within the scope of the claimed Zika NS1 wing domain antigens. In particular, a variant may be an isoform which shows amino acid exchanges, deletions or insertions compared to the amino acid sequence of the most prevalent protein isoform. In one embodiment, such a substantially similar protein has a sequence similarity to the most prevalent isoform of the protein of at least 80%, in another embodiment at least 85% or at least 90%, in yet another embodiment at least 95%. The term “variant” also relates to a post-translationally modified protein such as a glycosylated or phosphorylated protein. According to the invention a variant classifies as a Zika NS1 wing domain variant as long as the immunoreactivity in an in vitro diagnostic immunoassay is unchanged or largely maintained, i.e. the variant is still able to bind and detect anti-Zika antibodies present in an isolated sample while antibodies raised against other arboviruses are not detected or detected to a much lower extent. In addition, the overall three-dimensional structure of said Zika polypeptide remains unaltered, so that epitopes that were previously (i.e. in the wild type) present and accessible for binding to antibodies are still present and accessible in the variant.

A “variant” is also a protein or antigen which has been modified for example by covalent or non-covalent attachment of a label or carrier moiety to the protein or antigen. Possible labels are radioactive, fluorescent, chemiluminescent, electrochemiluminescent, enzymes or others e.g. like digoxin, digoxigenin or biotin. These labels are known to a person skilled in the art.

When a provided polypeptide sequence information specified in the form of SEQ ID NOs is described by the term “consisting essentially of” (i.e., said sequence) this means that the sequence is present as literally listed but can also be present as variants that do not materially affect the basic characteristics of this polypeptide in terms of immunological binding to antibodies. An example of this would be the deletion or addition of only few amino acids at the N- and/or C-terminal end of this peptide as well as the exchange of a similar amino acid as, e.g., alanine for serine, isoleucine for valine, and vice versa.

The Zika NS1 wing domain antigens of the current invention are soluble, stable and immunoreactive, i.e. they are suitable as antigens for use in an immunological assay. This means that the antigens according to the invention are soluble under physiological buffer conditions, for example in a phosphate buffer system at ambient temperature without addition of detergents. The antigens are also capable of binding to or being recognized and bound by antibodies specific for Zika NS1 wing domain, like e.g. anti-Zika antibodies present in an isolated sample such as human sera.

In an embodiment, the addition of non-Zika-specific linker or peptidic fusion amino acid sequences to the Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptides is possible as these sequences are not specific for anti-Zika virus antibodies and would not interfere with the in vitro diagnostic immunoassay.

In an embodiment the Zika NS1 wing domain antigens may be fused to a chaperone. The term “fusion protein”, “fusion polypeptide” or “fusion antigen” refers to a protein comprising a Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide and at least one protein part derived from a chaperone that serves the role of a fusion partner.

Chaperones are well-known folding helper proteins that assist the folding and maintenance of the structural integrity of other proteins. Examples of folding helpers are described in detail in WO 03/000877. According to the invention chaperones of the peptidyl prolyl isomerase class such as chaperones of the FKBP family can be used for fusion to the Zika NS1 wing domain antigen variants. Examples of FKBP chaperones suitable as fusion partners are FkpA, SlyD and SlpA. A further chaperone suitable as a fusion partner for the Zika NS1 wing antigen is Skp, a trimeric chaperone from the periplasm of E. coli, not belonging to the FKBP family. It is not always necessary to use the complete sequence of a chaperone. Functional fragments of chaperones (so-called binding-competent modules or polypeptide-binding motifs) which still possess the required abilities and functions may also be used (cf. WO 98/13496).

In a further embodiment of the invention at least one or at least two modules of an FKBP chaperone such as e.g. E. coli SlyD, SlpA or FkpA are used as fusion moieties for expression of the Zika NS1 wing domain antigen. The chaperone Skp may be used as a fusion partner as well. The fusion of two FKBP-chaperone domains results in improved solubility of the resulting fusion polypeptide. The fusion moieties may be located at the N-terminus or at the C-terminus or at both ends (sandwich-like) of the Zika NS1 wing domain antigen.

In an embodiment the Zika NS1 wing domain antigen is fused to an oligomeric chaperone. Oligomeric chaperones are chaperones that naturally form dimers, trimers or even higher multimers so that a plurality of monomeric subunits are assembled into a well-defined functional quaternary structure by specific non-covalent interactions. Thereby, the covalently fused antigens are coerced into a higher epitope density as well. Preferred oligomeric chaperones are FkpA and Skp. Multimerized antigens are particularly useful in detecting IgM antibodies and hence early immune responses immediately after infections.

In an embodiment, the Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide is fused to one, two or more chaperone molecules of bacterial SlyD, SlpA, FkpA or Skp, in an embodiment of E. coli SlyD, SlpA, FkpA or Skp. In a further embodiment the Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide consists of SEQ ID NO:21.

Another embodiment of the invention is a Zika NS1 antigen that does not immunologically cross-react with antibodies raised against structurally related antigens from tick-borne encephalitis virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:5 or 6, and/or from Dengue virus 1-4 comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:7 to 14, and/or from West Nile virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:15 or 16, and/or from yellow fever virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:17 or 18, and/or from Japanese encephalitis virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:19 to 20, but immunologically reacts with antibodies raised against full length Zika virus NS1 antigen according to SEQ ID NO:3. In a further embodiment said Zika NS1 antigen is a Zika NS1 wing domain antigen wherein the Zika-specific sequence consists essentially of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2, in an embodiment consists of SEQ ID NO: 1 or 2.

The term “does not immunologically cross-react” designates a strongly reduced or completely abolished undesired immunological reactivity. The term “immunological cross-reactivity” has been coined to illustrate an unwanted binding of immunoglobulins which is due to similarities in sequence or structure of an antigen with the immunogen, against which the antibodies have originally been mounted. In an embodiment, Zika virus NS1 wing domain polypeptides show a completely abolished or strongly reduced immunological reactivity towards antibodies or towards a subset of antibodies raised against homologous or related the corresponding arboviral NS1 antigens named above as compared to the full length Zika virus NS1 polypeptide. In yet another embodiment Zika virus NS1 wing domain polypeptides show a strongly reduced immunological cross-reactivity towards antibodies or towards a subset of antibodies raised against Dengue virus, in an embodiment towards antibodies raised against Dengue virus types 1, 2, 3, 4. In a further embodiment, a strongly reduced immunological cross-reactivity of the Zika virus NS1 wing domain polypeptides applies also to antibodies or a subset of antibodies raised against yellow fever virus.

The expression “does not immunologically cross-react” also refers to a situation where in an immunoassay in a double antigen sandwich format for detecting antibodies the sample antibodies (i.e., the analyte antibodies) are bound by two specific antigens: one is capable of being bound to a solid phase and the other carries a label, the sample antibody is sandwiched between both antigens. In the presence of analyte antibodies the labeled antigen is recruited—within the resulting ternary immune complex—to the solid phase and yields a signal. In the present case, a Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide is labeled and the measured signal is set as 100%. In a parallel or subsequent experiment, the same assay is run with another aliquot of the same (positive) sample and in addition a non-labeled antigen with an amino acid sequence suspected to compete with the labeled antigen is added to the mixture. In the present case, full length NS1 polypeptides of either TBEV, DENV1-4, WNV, YFV or JEV are added. In another embodiment, NS1 polypeptides consisting of or comprising only the NS1 wing domain of either TBEV, DENV1-4, WNV, YFV or JEV are added. When the signal obtained after measurement is maintained at about at least 70% signal recovery, in an embodiment at least 80% signal recovery, in an embodiment at least 85% signal recovery, in an embodiment at least 90% signal recovery of the original signal, the flaviviral (in this example: Zika) NS1 polypeptide is not prone to signal quenching. It is not outcompeted by the added antigens and therefore withstands potentially cross-reactive substances. For illustration, such blocking experiments are described in example 2 (table 2).

In an embodiment, NS1 full length or NS1 wing domain peptides from tick-borne encephalitis virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:5 or 6, and/or from Dengue virus 1-4 comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:7 to 14, and/or from West Nile virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:15 or 16, and/or from yellow fever virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:17 or 18, and/or from Japanese encephalitis virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:19 to 20, are added in the above-described blocking experiment.

In another embodiment, the Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide immunologically reacts with antibodies, or a subset of antibodies, raised against full-length NS1 antigen as shown in SEQ ID NO:3. This means that in the above-disclosed assay setup, the signal of the Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide should be fully quenched (100%) upon addition of the full-length Zika NS1 polypeptide.

The approach how to determine immunological cross-reactivity to Zika-related viruses is further described in example 2.

The Zika NS1 polypeptides (both wing domain and ß-ladder domain) as well as the polypeptides applied for the blocking experiments of example 2 can be generated and prepared by means of recombinant DNA techniques and protein purification techniques as known in the art. Another aspect of the invention therefore is a recombinant DNA molecule encoding a Zika NS1 wing domain antigen, in an embodiment an antigen according to SEQ ID NOs 1, 2 or 21 and variants thereof as defined further above.

The term “recombinant DNA molecule” refers to a molecule which is made by the combination of two otherwise separated segments of DNA sequence accomplished by the artificial manipulation of isolated segments of polynucleotides by genetic engineering techniques or by chemical synthesis. In doing so one may join together polynucleotide segments of desired functions to generate a desired combination of functions. Recombinant DNA techniques for expression of proteins in prokaryotic or lower or higher eukaryotic host cells are well known in the art. They have been described e.g. by Sambrook et al., (1989, Molecular Cloning: A Laboratory Manual)

The recombinant DNA molecules according to the invention may also contain sequences encoding linker peptides of 5 to 100 amino acid residues in between the Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen and the fusion moieties and also between several fusion moieties. Such a linker sequence may for example harbor a proteolytic cleavage site.

A further aspect of the invention is an expression vector comprising operably linked a recombinant DNA molecule according to the present invention, i.e., a recombinant DNA molecule encoding a Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen and optionally a peptidyl prolyl isomerase chaperone, such as an FKBP-chaperone, wherein the FKBP-chaperone is selected from FkpA, SlyD and SlpA. In an alternative embodiment the recombinant DNA molecule encodes a fusion protein comprising a Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen and Skp. The expression vector comprising a recombinant DNA according to the present invention may be used to express the Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen in a cell free translation system or may be used to transform a host cell for expression of the Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen according to methods well known in the art. Another aspect of the invention therefore relates to a host cell transformed with an expression vector according to the present invention. In one embodiment of the current invention the recombinant Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigens are produced in E. coli cells.

An additional aspect is a method for producing a soluble, stable and immunoreactive Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen. Said Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen may be produced as a fusion protein containing the Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen and a chaperone. Preferably, a chaperone such as Skp or a peptidyl prolyl isomerase class chaperone like an FKBP chaperone is used. In a further embodiment of the invention said FKBP chaperone is selected from the group consisting of SlyD, FkpA and SlpA.

This method comprises the steps of

-   a) culturing host cells transformed with the above-described     expression vector containing a gene encoding an Zika virus NS1 wing     domain antigen -   b) expression of the gene encoding said Zika virus NS1 wing domain     antigen -   c) purification of said Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen.

Optionally, as an additional step d), functional solubilization needs to be carried out so that the Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen is brought into a soluble and immunoreactive conformation by means of refolding techniques known in the art.

Yet another embodiment is a method for producing a soluble, stable and immunoreactive Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen in a cell-free in vitro translation system.

An additional aspect of the present invention concerns a method for the detection of anti-Zika antibodies in an isolated human sample wherein a Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen according to the invention is used as a binding partner for the antibodies. The invention thus covers a method for the detection of antibodies specific for Zika virus in an isolated sample, said method comprising a) forming an immunoreaction admixture by admixing a body fluid sample with an Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen according to the invention b) maintaining said immunoreaction admixture for a time period sufficient for allowing antibodies against said Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen present in the body fluid sample to immunoreact with said Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen to form an immunoreaction product; and c) detecting the presence and/or the concentration of any of said immunoreaction product.

In a further aspect said method is suitable for detecting Zika virus antibodies of the IgG and the IgM subclass or of both classes in the same immunoassay.

Immunoassays for detection of antibodies are well known in the art, and so are methods for carrying out such assays and practical applications and procedures. The Zika NS1 antigens according to the invention can be used to improve assays for the detection of anti-Zika antibodies independently of the labels used and independently of the mode of detection (e.g., radioisotope assay, enzyme immunoassay, electrochemiluminescence assay, etc.) or the assay principle (e.g., test strip assay, sandwich assay, indirect test concept or homogenous assay, etc.).

In an embodiment of the invention the immunoassay is a particle-based immunoassay applying microparticles as solid phase. A “particle” as used herein means a small, localized object to which can be ascribed a physical property such as volume, mass or average size. Microparticles may accordingly be of a symmetrical, globular, essentially globular or spherical shape, or be of an irregular, asymmetric shape or form. The size of a particle envisaged by the present invention may vary. In one embodiment the microparticles used are of globular shape, e.g. microparticles with a diameter in the nanometer and micrometer range. In one embodiment the microparticles used in a method according to the present disclosure have a diameter of 50 nanometers to 20 micrometers. In a further embodiment the microparticles have a diameter of between 100 nm and 10 μm. In one embodiment, the microparticles used in a method according to the present disclosure have a diameter of 200 nm to 5 μm or from 750 nm to 5 μm.

Microparticles as defined herein above may comprise or consist of any suitable material known to the person skilled in the art, e.g. they may comprise or consist of or essentially consist of inorganic or organic material. Typically, they may comprise or consist of or essentially consist of metal or an alloy of metals, or an organic material, or comprise or consist of or essentially consist of carbohydrate elements. Examples of envisaged material for microparticles include agarose, polystyrene, latex, polyvinyl alcohol, silica and ferromagnetic metals, alloys or composition materials. In one embodiment the microparticles are magnetic or ferromagnetic metals, alloys or compositions. In further embodiments, the material may have specific properties and e.g. be hydrophobic, or hydrophilic. Such microparticles typically are dispersed in aqueous solutions and retain a small negative surface charge keeping the microparticles separated and avoiding non-specific clustering.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the microparticles are paramagnetic microparticles and the separation of such particles in the measurement method according to the present disclosure is facilitated by magnetic forces. Magnetic forces are applied to pull the paramagnetic or magnetic particles out of the solution/suspension and to retain them as desired while liquid of the solution/suspension can be removed and the particles can e.g. be washed.

All biological liquids known to the expert can be used as isolated samples for the detection of anti-Zika antibodies. The samples usually used are bodily liquids like whole blood, blood serum, blood plasma, urine or saliva, in an embodiment blood serum or plasma.

A further embodiment of the invention is an immunoassay for detecting anti-Zika antibodies in an isolated sample performed according to the so-called double antigen sandwich concept (DAGS). Sometimes this assay concept is also termed double antigen bridge concept, because the two antigens are bridged by an antibody analyte. In such an assay the ability of an antibody to bind at least two different molecules of a given antigen with its two (IgG, IgE), four (IgA) or ten (IgM) paratopes is required and utilized.

In more detail, an immunoassay for the determination of anti-Zika antibodies according to the double antigen bridge format is carried out by incubating a sample containing the anti-Zika antibodies with two different Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigens, i.e. a first (“solid phase” or “capture”) Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen and a second Zika virus NS1 wing domain (“detection” or “reporter”) antigen, wherein each of the said antigens binds specifically to said anti-Zika antibodies. The first antigen can be bound directly or indirectly to a solid phase and usually carries an effector group which is part of a bioaffine binding pair.

One type of a bioaffine binding pair which is suitable for the method according to the present invention is a hapten and anti-hapten antibody binding pair. A hapten is an organic molecule with a molecular weight of 100 to 2000 Dalton, preferably of 150 to 1000 Dalton. Such small molecule can be rendered immunogenic by coupling it to a carrier molecule and anti-hapten antibodies can be generated according to standard procedures. The hapten may be selected from the group comprising sterols, bile acids, sexual hormones, corticoids, cardenolides, cardenolide-glycosides, bufadienolides, steroid-sapogenines and steroid alkaloids, cardenolides and cardenolide-glycosides. Representatives of these substance classes are digoxigenin, digitoxigenin, gitoxigenin, strophanthidin, digoxin, digitoxin, ditoxin, and strophanthin. Another suitable hapten is for example fluorescein. In an embodiment, a bioaffine binding pair comprises biotin and avidin/streptavidin or digoxin and anti-digoxin.

In yet another embodiment, the first antigen is conjugated to biotin and the complementary solid phase is coated with either avidin or streptavidin. The second antigen carries a label that confers specific detectability to this antigen molecule, either alone or in complex with other molecules. Thus an immunoreaction admixture is formed comprising the first antigen, the sample antibody and the second antigen. This ternary complex consisting of analyte antibody sandwiched in between two antigen molecules is termed immunocomplex or immunoreaction product. A solid phase to which the first antigen can be bound is added either before the addition of the sample to said antigens or after the immunoreaction admixture is formed. This immunoreaction admixture is maintained for a time period sufficient for allowing anti-Zika antibodies against said Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigens in the body fluid sample to immunoreact with said Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigens to form an immunoreaction product. Next step is a separation step wherein the liquid phase is separated from the solid phase. Finally, the presence of any of said immunoreaction product is detected in the solid or liquid phase or both.

In said DAGS immunoassay the basic structures of the “solid phase antigen” and the “detection antigen” are essentially the same. It is also possible to use, in a double antigen bridge assay, similar but different Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigens, which are immunologically cross-reactive. The essential requirement for performing such assays is that the relevant epitope or the relevant epitopes are present on both antigens. According to the invention it is possible to use the same or different fusion moieties for each Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen (e.g. SlyD fused to Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen on the solid phase side and, e.g., FkpA fused to Zika virus NS1 wing domain antigen on the detection side) as such variations significantly alleviate the problem of non-specific binding and thus mitigate the risk of false-positive results.

A further embodiment is a method for detecting anti-Zika virus antibodies (i.e., immunoglobulins) of the M class (IgM detection). In an embodiment of this method a Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide as disclosed further above is applied in such a way that the multivalent IgM antibodies present in a sample specifically bind to the Zika NS1 wing domain antigen. In an embodiment, the Zika NS1 wing domain antigen is provided in a multimeric form by either chemically cross-linking the antigen or by fusing the antigen to an oligomerizing molecule such as an oligomeric chaperone, in an embodiment to FkpA or Skp. In another embodiment a Zika wing domain antigen is present in multiple form by connecting individual antigens in series, adjacent to each other. These individual antigen moieties can also be separated by linker molecules that are not Zika specific. In a further embodiment the multiple Zika antigens connected in series can additionally be multimerized by an oligomerization molecule such as an oligomeric chaperone like e.g. FkpA or Skp. In yet another embodiment the Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide is used in a multimeric form wherein each polypeptide is present at least in duplicate form, in an embodiment it is present three to ten times.

In yet another embodiment of the IgM detection method of Zika-antibodies the IgM class antibodies present in the sample are bound to a solid phase by a so-called μ-capture component which usually is a binding partner or an antibody or antibody fragment that specifically binds to the Fc part of human IgM molecules, independently of the specificity of the IgM molecule. Said μ-capture component carries an effector group (such as biotin) which is part of a bioaffine pair with avidin or streptavidin. In an embodiment also other bioaffine pairs such as e.g. digoxin and anti-digoxin or further hapten and anti-haptens as described further above can be used. In an embodiment, a solid phase covered with avidin or streptavidin then attracts and binds the μ-capture component. In order to specifically detect the Zika-specific antibodies a Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide as described is used in a labeled form to detect the anti-Zika antibodies of the IgM class.

Another embodiment is the use of a Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide as detailed above in an in vitro diagnostic test, in an embodiment an immunoassay method as defined above, for the detection of anti-Zika virus antibodies.

As a further embodiment the maximal total duration of the immunoassay method for detecting Zika virus antibodies is less than one hour, i.e. less than 60 minutes, in an embodiment less than 30 minutes, in a further embodiment less than 20 minutes, in an embodiment between 15 and 30 minutes, in an embodiment between 15 to 20 minutes. The duration includes pipetting the sample and the reagents necessary to carry out the assay as well as incubation time, optional washing steps, the detection step and also the final output of the result.

An additional subject matter of the invention is a reagent kit for the detection of antibodies against Zika virus that comprises a Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide disclosed above. In an embodiment a reagent kit comprises in separate containers or in separated compartments of a single container unit at least microparticles coated with avidin or streptavidin, and a Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide as detailed before. In another embodiment, said microparticles are coated with one partner of other bioaffine pairs as described further above, such as e.g. digoxin and anti-digoxin, hapten and anti-hapten. In an embodiment, said Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide is covalently coupled to biotin. In an embodiment, said Zika NS1 wing domain is covalently coupled to the second partner of other bioaffine pairs such as e.g. digoxin and anti-digoxin, hapten and anti-hapten. In another embodiment, said Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide is covalently coupled to a detectable label, in an embodiment to an electrochemiluminescent complex. In a further embodiment also chemiluminescent labels such as e.g. acridinium ester or radioactive or fluorescent compounds or enzymes can be applied as label. In yet another embodiment, said reagent kit comprises in separate containers or in separated compartments of a single container unit at least microparticles coated with avidin or streptavidin, a first Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide covalently coupled to biotin and a second Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide that is covalently coupled to a detectable label, e.g. to an electrochemiluminescent ruthenium complex or an electrochemiluminescent iridium complex.

A further embodiment is a reagent kit for detecting anti-Zika antibodies of the IgM class, comprising in separate containers or in separated compartments of a single container unit at least microparticles coated with avidin or streptavidin, and a μ-capture binding partner that is covalently coupled to biotin. In a further embodiment said IgM detection reagent kit additionally contains Zika NS1 wing domain polypeptide which is covalently coupled to a detectable label, in an embodiment to an electrochemiluminescent complex.

The term single container unit relates to the fact that for many automatic analyzers, like the Elecsys® analyzer series from Roche diagnostics, the reagents required to measure a certain analyte are provided in the form of a “reagent pack”, i.e. as one container unit fitting on the analyzer and containing in different compartments all the key reagents required for measurement of the analyte of interest.

In addition, the reagent kits defined above contain controls and standard solutions as well as reagents in one or more solutions with the common additives, buffers, salts, detergents and the like as used by the average man skilled in the art along with instructions for use.

In yet another aspect, the invention concerns a method for detecting antibodies against a Zika virus in an isolated biological sample that is presumed to contain antibodies against at least one other non-Zika flavivirus such as e.g. Dengue virus. In this method, Zika virus NS1 polypeptide comprising a complete or partial sequence of the ß-ladder domain is applied as specific binding partner, i.e. not only the NS1 wing domain. In this setup cross-reactivity against other non-Zika flaviviruses can be expected due to the presence of ß-ladder domain peptide sequences in the specific binding partner. In order to eliminate this interference a polypeptide comprising solely the NS1 ß-ladder domain of said Zika virus is added in an unlabeled form so that the cross-reacting antibodies of non-Zika origin are bound and quenched. In an embodiment, the ß-ladder domain is added as a quencher, in a further embodiment said ß-ladder domain polypeptide consists essentially of SEQ ID NO:4, in an embodiment consists of SEQ ID NO:4.

The following embodiments are also part of the invention:

-   -   1. A polypeptide suitable for detecting antibodies against Zika         virus in an isolated biological sample comprising a Zika virus         NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence, wherein no amino         acid sequences from the Zika virus NS1 ß-ladder domain are         present in said polypeptide     -   2. A polypeptide according to embodiment 1, wherein no further         Zika virus specific amino acid sequences are present in said         polypeptide.     -   3. A polypeptide according to any of embodiments 1 or 2, wherein         said Zika virus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence         consists essentially of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2     -   4. A polypeptide according to any of embodiments 1 to 3, wherein         said Zika virus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence         consists of SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2.     -   5. A polypeptide according to embodiment 1 to 4, wherein said         Zika virus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence can be         truncated by 1 to 5 amino acids at its N-terminal or C-terminal         end or at both ends.     -   6. A polypeptide according to embodiments 1 to 5, wherein said         Zika virus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence can be         modified by conservative amino acid substitutions so that the         immunoreactivity of said Zika polypeptide remains unchanged or         is largely maintained, in an embodiment so that the         three-dimensional structure of said Zika polypeptide remains         unchanged.     -   7. A polypeptide according to any of embodiments 1 to 6 wherein         said Zika polypeptide is fused to a chaperone.     -   8. A polypeptide according to any of embodiments 1 to 7 wherein         said chaperone is selected from the group consisting of SlyD,         SlpA, FkpA and Skp.     -   9. A polypeptide according to embodiment 8 consisting         essentially of SEQ ID NO:21, in an embodiment consisting of SEQ         ID NO:21.     -   10. A polypeptide according to any of embodiments 1-9, wherein         in an immunoassay for detecting antibodies against Zika virus,         said Zika NS1 polypeptide does not immunologically cross-react         with antibodies raised against structurally related antigens         from tick-borne encephalitis virus comprising any of SEQ ID         NOs:5 or 6, and/or from Dengue virus 1-4 comprising any of SEQ         ID NOs:7 to 14, and/or from West Nile virus comprising any of         SEQ ID NOs:15 or 16, and/or from yellow fever virus comprising         any of SEQ ID NOs:17 or 18, and/or from Japanese encephalitis         virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs:19 to 20, but immunologically         reacts with antibodies raised against full length Zika virus NS1         polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO:3.     -   11. A method of producing a soluble and immunoreactive Zika         virus NS1 wing domain polypeptide, said method comprising the         steps of         -   a) culturing host cells transformed with an expression             vector comprising operably linked a recombinant DNA molecule             encoding a Zika virus NS1 polypeptide according to any of             embodiments 1 to 10,         -   b) expression of said Zika virus NS1 polypeptide and         -   c) purification of said Zika virus NS1 polypeptide.     -   12. A method for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in         an isolated sample wherein a Zika virus polypeptide according to         any of embodiments 1 to 10 or a Zika virus polypeptide obtained         by a method according to embodiment 11 is used as a capture         reagent and/or as a binding partner for said anti-Zika virus         antibodies.     -   13. A method for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in         an isolated sample said method comprising         -   a) forming an immunoreaction admixture by admixing a body             fluid sample with a Zika virus polypeptide according to any             of embodiments 1 to 10 or a Zika virus polypeptide obtained             by the method of embodiment 11         -   b) maintaining said immunoreaction admixture for a time             period sufficient for allowing antibodies present in the             body fluid sample against said Zika virus polypeptide to             immunoreact with said Zika virus polypeptide to form an             immunoreaction product; and         -   c) detecting the presence and/or the concentration of any of             said immunoreaction product.     -   14. A method for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in         an isolated sample according to any of embodiments 12 or 13,         wherein the detected antibody is an IgG antibody.     -   15. A method for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in         an isolated sample according to embodiment 13 or 14 wherein said         immunoreaction is carried out in a double antigen sandwich         format comprising         -   a) adding to said sample a first Zika virus polypeptide             according to any of embodiments 1 to 10 or a polypeptide             produced by a method according to embodiment 11, which can             be bound directly or indirectly to a solid phase and said             first Zika virus polypeptide carries an effector group which             is part of a bioaffine binding pair, and a second Zika virus             polypeptide according to any of embodiments 1 to 10 or             produced by a method according to embodiment 11, and said             second Zika virus polypeptide carries a detectable label,             wherein said first and second Zika virus polypeptides bind             specifically to said anti-Zika virus antibodies,         -   b) forming an immunoreaction admixture comprising said first             Zika virus polypeptide, said sample antibody and said second             Zika virus polypeptide wherein a solid phase carrying a             corresponding effector group of said bioaffine binding pair             is added before, during or after forming the immunoreaction             admixture,         -   c) maintaining said immunoreaction admixture for a time             period sufficient for allowing Zika virus antibodies against             said first and second Zika virus polypeptides in the body             fluid sample to immunoreact with said first and second Zika             virus polypeptides to form an immunoreaction product,         -   d) separating the liquid phase from the solid phase         -   e) detecting the presence of any of said immunoreaction             product in the solid or liquid phase or both.     -   16. A method for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus         according to embodiment 15, wherein said first Zika virus         polypeptide carries a biotin moiety, and said second Zika virus         polypeptide is labeled with an electrochemiluminescent moiety,         in an embodiment with a ruthenium or iridium complex.     -   17. A method for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in         an isolated sample according to any of embodiments 12 or 13,         wherein the detected antibody is an IgM antibody.     -   18. A method for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus of         the IgM class according to embodiment 17, wherein the Zika NS1         wing domain polypeptide is used in a multimeric form, in an         embodiment wherein said polypeptide is present at least in         duplicate form, in an embodiment three to ten times.     -   19. A method according to any of embodiments 12 or 13, wherein         said detected antibodies are IgM antibodies and wherein said IgM         antibodies are captured on a solid phase by a μ-capture binding         partner.     -   20. A method for detecting IgM antibodies specific for Zika         virus in an isolated sample according to any of embodiments 17         to 19 wherein said immunoreaction is carried out in a μ-capture         format comprising         -   a) adding to said sample a μ-capture binding partner which             can be bound directly or indirectly to a solid phase and             said μ-capture binding partner carries an effector group             which is part of a bioaffine binding pair,         -   and a Zika virus polypeptide according to any of embodiments             1 to 10 or produced by a method according to embodiment 11,             and said Zika virus polypeptide carries a detectable label,         -   wherein said μ-capture binding partner specifically binds to             the Fc part of human IgM antibodies and said Zika virus             polypeptide binds specifically to said anti-Zika virus             antibodies,         -   b) forming an immunoreaction admixture comprising said             μ-capture binding partner, said sample antibodies and said             Zika virus polypeptide wherein a solid phase carrying a             corresponding effector group of said bioaffine binding pair             is added before, during or after forming the immunoreaction             admixture,         -   c) maintaining said immunoreaction admixture for a time             period sufficient for allowing IgM antibodies against said             Zika virus polypeptide in the body fluid sample to             immunoreact with said Zika virus polypeptide to form an             immunoreaction product,         -   d) separating the liquid phase from the solid phase         -   e) detecting the presence of any of said immunoreaction             product in the solid or liquid phase or both.     -   21. A method according to any of embodiments 12 to 20, wherein         said method does not use Zika NS1 antigens from the ß-ladder         domain, in an embodiment does not use a polypeptide comprising         an amino acid sequence according to SEQ ID NO:4.     -   22. Use of a Zika virus polypeptide according to any of         embodiments 1 to 10 or of a Zika virus polypeptide obtained by         the method of embodiment 11 in an in vitro diagnostic test for         the detection of anti-Zika virus antibodies.     -   23. Use of a Zika virus polypeptide according to any of         embodiments 1 to 10 or of a Zika virus polypeptide obtained by         the method of embodiment 11 in an in vitro diagnostic test for         the detection of anti-Zika virus antibodies according to any of         the methods of embodiments 12 to 21.     -   24. A reagent kit for the detection of anti-Zika virus         antibodies, comprising a Zika virus polypeptide according to any         of embodiments 1 to 10 or of a Zika virus polypeptide obtained         by the method of embodiment 11.     -   25. A reagent kit according to embodiment 24 comprising in         separate containers or in separated compartments of a single         container unit at least microparticles coated with avidin or         streptavidin, and a polypeptide according to any of embodiments         1 to 10 or obtained by a method according to embodiment 11 that         is covalently coupled to biotin.     -   26. A reagent kit according to embodiment 24 comprising in         separate containers or in separated compartments of a single         container unit at least microparticles coated with one partner         of a bioaffine pair such as hapten/anti-hapten, and a         polypeptide according to any of embodiments 1 to 10 or obtained         by a method according to embodiment 11, wherein said bioaffine         pair is hapten/anti-hapten, in an embodiment         digoxin/anti-digoxin.     -   27. A reagent kit according to embodiment 24 additionally         comprising a second polypeptide according to any of embodiments         1 to 10 or obtained by a method according to embodiment 11 that         carries a detectable label.     -   28. A reagent kit according to embodiment 24, comprising in         separate containers or in separated compartments of a single         container unit at least microparticles coated with avidin or         streptavidin, and a μ-capture binding partner that is covalently         coupled to biotin.     -   29. A reagent kit according to embodiment 24, wherein said Zika         virus polypeptide carries a detectable label.     -   30. A method for detecting antibodies against a Zika virus in an         isolated biological sample presumed to contain antibodies         against at least one other non-Zika flavivirus, by using a Zika         virus NS1 polypeptide comprising a complete or partial sequence         of the ß-ladder domain as specific binding partner, wherein the         cross-reactivity against said non-Zika flavivirus is eliminated         by adding a polypeptide comprising the NS1 ß-ladder domain of         said Zika virus in an unlabeled form, in an embodiment adding         said polypeptide comprising the ß-ladder domain as a quencher.     -   31. A method according to embodiment 30, wherein said added         polypeptide comprising the Zika virus NS1 ß-ladder domain         consists essentially of SEQ ID NO:4, in an embodiment consists         of SEQ ID NO:4.     -   32. Use of Zika virus NS1 ß-ladder domain as a reagent for         reducing interference in an immunoassay for detecting anti-Zika         virus antibodies, in an embodiment said NS1 ß-ladder domain         consisting essentially of SEQ ID NO:4, in an embodiment         consisting of SEQ ID NO:4.

The invention is further illustrated by the Examples.

EXAMPLES Example 1: Immunological Reactivity (i.e., Antigenicity) of Different Zika NS1 Antigen Variants in a Zika IgG Immunoassay

NS1 antigens and variants were essentially cloned, expressed, purified and labeled as described in WO2014054990A1 or by Scholz et al., J. Mol. Biol. (2005) 345, 1229-1241. The purified and solubilized gene products were subsequently coupled to either biotin or to an electrochemiluminescent ruthenium label.

The immunological reactivity (i.e., antigenicity) of the polypeptide fusion variants of Zika NS1 antigens was assessed in automated Elecsys® 2010 and cobas e 411 analyzers (Roche Diagnostics GmbH). Elecsys® is a registered trademark of the Roche group. Measurements were carried out in the double antigen sandwich format.

Signal detection in Elecsys® 2010 and cobas e 411 is based on electrochemiluminescence. The biotin-conjugate (i.e. the capture-antigen) is immobilized on the surface of a streptavidin coated magnetic bead whereas the detection-antigen bears a complexed Ruthenium cation (switching between the redox states 2+ and 3+) as the signaling moiety. In the presence of a specific immunoglobulin analyte, the chromogenic ruthenium complex is bridged to the solid phase and emits light at 620 nm after excitation at a platinum electrode. The signal output is in relative light units. Typically, the total duration of an assay is 18 minutes.

The recombinant Zika NS1 antigen fusion polypeptides were assessed in a double antigen sandwich (DAGS) immunoassay format. To this end, recombinant Zika NS1 antigen was used as a biotin and a ruthenium conjugate pair, respectively, to detect anti-Zika NS1 antibodies in human sera.

NS1 is one of the immunodominant antigens of Zika Virus, and soluble variants of NS1 antigen—as disclosed in this patent application—are invaluable tools for the detection of Zika virus infections. In all measurements, chemically polymerized and unlabeled SlyD-SlyD was implemented in large excess (˜8 μg/ml) in the reaction buffer as anti-interference substances to avoid immunological cross reactions via the chaperone fusion and linker units.

In particular, two Zika NS1 variants were scrutinized in this study, namely the Zika NS1 “wing” domain (see SEQ ID NOs: 1 and 2) and the Zika NS1 “ß-ladder” domain (see SEQ ID NO:4). In order to detect anti-Zika NS1 IgG molecules, SlyD-SlyD-Zika NS1-biotin and SlyD-SlyD-Zika NS1-ruthenium were used in R1 (reagent buffer 1) and R2 (reagent buffer 2), respectively. The concentrations of the antigen conjugates in R1 and R2, respectively, were 500 ng/ml each.

Human serum samples negative for both Zika and Dengue IgG antibodies, human serum samples positive for Zika IgG antibodies and human serum samples positive for Dengue IgG antibodies were tested with both of the Zika NS1 recombinant antigens (“wing” and “ß-ladder”) in comparison with a commercially available state of the art immuno assay (indirect ELISA applying a recombinant NS1 antigen coated to a microtiter plate, detection of the sample antibodies against Zika virus by addition of an enzyme-labeled anti-human IgG conjugate), as described by Huzly et al., supra.

In this experiment, the human samples described above were assessed with the aforementioned DAGS immunoassay setup.

The unavoidable system-inherent signal is around 500 counts. Low background signals for human serum samples negative for Zika IgG and Dengue IgG antibodies are indicative of high solubility and generally benign physicochemical properties of the respective antigen ruthenium conjugates. Hydrophobic or, generally spoken, “sticky” antigen-ruthenium conjugates tend to interact with the bead surface and thereby increase the background signal. From table 1 we can infer that the physicochemical properties of Zika NS1 “wing” are excellent (column 1). This holds true for Zika NS1 “ß-ladder” as well (data column 2): When Zika NS1 “wing” (SEQ ID NO:21) is used as an antigen pair in biotinylated form and in ruthenylated form in the DAGS format, or Zika NS1 “ß-ladder” (SEQ ID NO:22) is used as an antigen pair in biotinylated and ruthenylated form in the DAGS format, both antigen pairs yield a signal background of ˜600-900 counts with negative human sera, which clearly points to good solubility properties of the antigen conjugates. However, it becomes evident at first glance that the Zika NS1 “wing” and the Zika NS1 “ß-ladder”, although being equivalent in their capability to detect anti-Zika antibodies, largely differ in their cross-reactivity with anti-Dengue antibodies as shown in Table 1. Having a closer look at the Zika IgG positive samples, we find that both Zika NS1 “wing” and Zika NS1 “ß-ladder” detect all Zika IgG samples as positive (>2000 counts). Importantly, Zika NS1 “wing” does not cross-react with Dengue IgG positive samples, since all Dengue IgG samples are found negative (<<2000 counts) with the Zika NS1 wing antigen. In marked contrast, Zika NS1 “ß-ladder” detects 9 out of 20 Dengue IgG samples as reactive (>2000 counts), which points to a considerable degree of cross-reactivity. A very similar reactivity pattern with the Zika IgG and the Dengue IgG positive samples is observed with the commercially available Zika IgG assay described by Huzly et al. (Euro Surveill. 2016; 21(16), pii=30203, 1-4), indicating that the commercially available Zika IgG assay suffers from considerable immunological cross-reactivity (i.e., the commercially available Zika IgG assay provokes quite a few false positive Zika results) with Dengue IgG positive samples. In conclusion, both engineered variants of the Zika NS1 antigen (Zika NS1 “wing” and Zika NS1 “ß-ladder”) possess outstanding physicochemical and antigenic properties. Yet, the Zika NS1 “wing” antigen outperforms the ß-ladder domain in that it displays superior specificity for Zika IgG antibodies and significantly reduced immunological cross reactivity with Dengue positive sera.

The engineered recombinant Zika NS1 “wing” domain therefore constitutes a superior NS1 variant for specific determination of Zika antibodies as compared to the state of the art commercially available Zika IgG immunoassay (which presumably is based on the full-length NS1) as described by Huzly et al., supra.

Table 1 shows the superior specificity (i.e., the strongly reduced cross-reactivity with anti-Dengue antibodies) of Zika NS1 “wing” as compared to Zika NS1 “ß-ladder” and commercially available state of the art Zika IgG assay.

TABLE 1 Zika Zika NS1 “wing” Zika NS1 “ß-ladder” Commercial Zika NS1 NS1 “ß- Commercial assay assay Zika IgG “wing” ladder” Zika IgG Signal Signal assay assay assay assay Sample ID Sample type counts dynamic counts dynamics* s/co result result result BD03 Negative 1 562 0.33 957 0.36 0.147 NR NR NR BD09 Negative 2 549 0.33 975 0.37 0.018 NR NR NR BD15 Negative 3 577 0.34 854 0.32 0.466 NR NR NR BD22 Negative 4 559 0.33 874 0.33 0.056 NR NR NR BD23 Negative 5 557 0.33 879 0.33 0.034 NR NR NR BD24 Negative 6 567 0.34 869 0.33 0.050 NR NR NR BD29 Negative 7 564 0.33 844 0.32 0.058 NR NR NR BD34 Negative 8 575 0.34 971 0.37 0.028 NR NR NR BD36 Negative 9 546 0.32 799 0.30 0.010 NR NR NR BD37 Negative 10 558 0.33 823 0.31 0.054 NR NR NR ARSZ16052 Zika IgG 28556 16.95 80129 30.19 4.66 reactive reactive reactive ARSZ16244 Zika IgG 19906 11.82 10274 3.87 3.65 reactive reactive reactive 16CDV61200 Zika IgG 9157 5.44 113815 42.89 5.73 reactive reactive reactive ARSZ16245 Zika IgG 17990 10.68 22353 8.42 4.89 reactive reactive reactive 16CDV61275 Zika IgG 36305 21.56 241699 91.07 8.42 reactive reactive reactive ARSZ16271 Zika IgG 27026 16.05 117869 44.41 7.46 reactive reactive reactive ARSZ16264 Zika IgG 7260 4.31 45774 17.25 4.63 reactive reactive reactive ARSZ16178 Zika IgG 27957 16.60 241364 90.95 6.12 reactive reactive reactive ARSZ16013 Zika IgG 9658 5.73 178153 67.13 6.49 reactive reactive reactive ARSZ16062 Zika IgG 21206 12.59 269333 101.49 7.66 reactive reactive reactive 8DEN0016 Dengue IgG 555 0.33 604 0.23 0.050 NR NR NR 8DEN0008 Dengue IgG 558 0.33 616 0.23 0.213 NR NR NR 8DEN0040 Dengue IgG 560 0.33 574 0.22 0.089 NR NR NR 8DEN0015 Dengue IgG 564 0.33 596 0.22 0.066 NR NR NR 8DEN0017 Dengue IgG 564 0.33 588 0.22 −0.019 NR NR NR 8DEN0045 Dengue IgG 568 0.34 584 0.22 0.112 NR NR NR D117 Dengue IgG 569 0.34 616 0.23 0.283 NR NR NR 8DEN0024 Dengue IgG 570 0.34 612 0.23 0.070 NR NR NR 8DEN0023 Dengue IgG 572 0.34 675 0.25 0.054 NR NR NR 8DEN0041 Dengue IgG 572 0.34 742 0.28 0.147 NR NR NR D092 Dengue IgG 566 0.34 4366 1.65 2.48 NR NR NR D096 Dengue IgG 567 0.34 4500 1.70 2.08 NR reactive reactive D009 Dengue IgG 574 0.34 19740 7.44 2.42 NR reactive reactive D094 Dengue IgG 577 0.34 2591 0.98 2.43 NR reactive reactive D109 Dengue IgG 583 0.35 9702 3.66 1.71 NR reactive reactive D099 Dengue IgG 585 0.35 3186 1.20 2.52 NR reactive reactive D102 Dengue IgG 585 0.35 13330 5.02 1.30 NR reactive reactive 8DEN0029 Dengue IgG 587 0.35 38740 14.60 3.62 NR reactive reactive 8DEN0013 Dengue IgG 595 0.35 37980 14.31 3.46 NR reactive reactive 8DEN0007 Dengue IgG 601 0.36 11840 4.46 3.06 NR reactive reactive *Signal Dynamics = counts sample/((counts mean negative samples) × 3) NR = non-reactive

Example 2: Blocking Experiment to Corroborate the Superior Specificity of the Zika NS1 “Wing” Antigen as Compared to Zika NS1 “ß-Ladder” Antigen

The immunological reactivity (i.e., the antigenicity) of the polypeptide fusion variants of Zika NS1 antigens was assessed in automated Elecsys® 2010 and cobas e 411 analyzers (Roche Diagnostics GmbH) as described in Example 1.

Three human serum samples positive for Zika IgG antibodies were tested with both of the engineered Zika NS1 recombinant antigens (“wing” and “ß-ladder”). In parallel, these human serum samples positive for Zika IgG antibodies were individually spiked with full-length flavivirus NS1 antigen preparations of either TBEV (tick-borne encephalitis virus, FSME, SEQ ID NO:6), or one antigen of DENV1-4 (Dengue virus 1-4, SEQ ID NOs:8, 10, 12, 14), or WNV (West-Nile virus, SEQ ID NO:16), or YFV (yellow fever virus, SEQ ID NO:18), or JEV (Japanese encephalitis virus, SEQ ID NO:20) or ZIKV (Zika virus, SEQ ID NO:3) (tables 2a and 2b).

In this experiment, the human samples (spiked and unspiked) as described above were assessed with the aforementioned DAGS immunoassay setup.

Samples were pre-diluted to a reactivity level (titer) needed for the blocking experiment. This step was needed as the concentration of the flavivirus NS-1 preparations prepared for the blocking experiment and the amount of antibodies in the sample need to be within a reasonable concentration ratio in order to yield a clear blocking result. Then the reactivity of the pre-diluted human anti-Zika IgG positive sample was compared to the signals achieved with the same sample when spiked with full-length flavivirus NS-1 of either TBEV, or DENV1-4, or WNV, or YFV, or JEV or ZIKV. The extent of signal reduction due to competition by the different full-length flavivirus NS-1 preparations of TBEV, DENV1-4, WNV, YFV, JEV and ZIKV was calculated. The signal reduction/extent of blocking was normalized to the maximal blocking achieved with full length Zika NS1, which, as expected, shows the strongest quenching of the signal with both assays (irrespective of the use of either Zika NS1 “wing” or Zika NS1 “ß-ladder”). The degree of the capacity to compete was calculated for all other full-length flavivirus NS1 preparations (TBEV, DENV1-4, WNV, YFV, JEV). It is evident at first glance that the signal of the assay based on the Zika NS1 “wing” antigen is only weakly quenched by the non-Zika NS1 antigens, whereas the signal of the assay based on the Zika NS1 “ß-ladder” antigen is markedly reduced by TBEV, DENV1-4 and JEV. This finding compellingly indicates that the NS1 wing domain and the NS1 ß-ladder domain strongly differ in their structural uniqueness among the arboviral NS1 homologues. Obviously, the wing part of the non-Zika NS1 antigens is not able to efficiently compete with the engineered Zika wing antigen for binding to the anti-Zika analyte antibodies. Conversely, the ß-ladder part of the non-Zika NS1 antigens is perfectly able to efficiently compete with the engineered Zika ß-ladder antigen for binding to the anti-Zika analyte antibodies.

In conclusion, this experiment is perfectly in line with Example 1 as it also demonstrates that the assay based on Zika NS1 “wing” antigen largely detects those anti-Zika IgG antibodies, which are not cross-reactive (or prone to cross-reactivity) with flavivirus NS-1 preparations of other arboviruses (TBEV, DENV1-4, WNV, YFV, JEV). In contrast, the assay based on Zika NS1 “ß-ladder” antigen binds anti-Zika antibodies, which are, in part, cross-reactive (or prone to cross-reactivity) with TBEV, DENV1-4 and JEV (i.e., they can be blocked by TBEV, DENV1-4 and JEV NS-1 preparations). In other words, the ß-ladder domain of the Zika NS1 antigen seems to share significant structural and sequence homology with the ß-ladder domains of related arboviruses, thereby evoking false positive results in immunoassays when used as an antigen. In contrast, the wing domain of the Zika NS1 antigen seems to be rather unique and seems to share little structural homology with its NS counterparts from other arboviruses.

Our data indicate that this principle holds true not only in the discrimination of Zika virus infections from other flaviviral infections, but also in the discrimination of other flaviviral infections from each other. We conclude that the specific detection of antibodies against the wing domain of the NS1 antigen may be an excellent means to clearly distinguish flaviviral infections even on a multiple flaviviral infection background. We reason that our findings bear promise to markedly improve the current serology and to obtain a more appropriate view on prevalence and incidence data in the flavivirus field.

In summary, the Zika NS1 “wing” antigen displays outstanding and superior specificity for Zika IgG, is less susceptible to immunological cross-reactivity with antibodies raised against NS1 homologues from other arboviruses (here: family of flaviviruses) and is therefore much more suitable for specific testing for anti-Zika IgG antibodies.

TABLE 2a SS-ZIKA-NS1- S-ZIKA-NS1- SS-ZIKA-NS1- S-ZIKA-NS1- SS-ZIKA-NS1- S-ZIKA-NS1- wing ß-ladder wing ß-ladder wing ß-ladder Normalized Normalized to Sample 16CDV61275 counts counts Blocking [%] Blocking [%] to Zika Zika 1:10 pre-diluted 3108 3432 Blocking [%] Blocking [%] Spiked with ZIKV NS1 1225 947 76.3 92.0 100.0 100.0 Spiked with TBEV NS1 3064 3387 1.73 1.62 2.3 1.8 Spiked with DenV1 NS1 2946 1511 6.38 69.1 8.4 75.2 Spiked with DenV2 NS1 3042 3349 2.60 2.99 3.4 3.2 Spiked with DenV3 NS1 3014 1587 3.70 66.4 4.9 72.2 Spiked with DenV4 NS1 3045 2734 2.48 25.1 3.3 27.3 Normalized Normalized to Sample 16CDV61278 counts counts Blocking [%] Blocking [%] to Zika Zika 1:20 pre-diluted 2989 2887 Blocking [%] Blocking [%] Spiked with ZIKV NS1 759 1457 91.7 69.4 100.0 100.0 Spiked with TBEV NS1 2914 2911 3.10 −1.07 3.4 −1.5 Spiked with DenV1 NS1 2858 1115 5.41 79.3 5.9 114.3 Spiked with DenV2 NS1 2749 1423 9.91 65.5 10.8 94.4 Spiked with DenV3 NS1 2783 1695 8.51 53.4 9.3 76.9 Spiked with DenV4 NS1 2880 2829 4.50 2.60 4.9 3.7 Normalized Normalized to Sample 16CDV61197 counts counts Blocking [%] Blocking [%] to Zika Zika 1:10 pre-diluted 2925 3089 Blocking [%] Blocking [%] Spiked with ZIKV NS1 1127 1720 76.1 62.8 100.0 100.0 Spiked with TBEV NS1 2897 3045 1.19 1.81 1.6 2.9 Spiked with DenV1 NS1 2648 2073 11.7 41.7 15.4 66.4 Spiked with DenV2 NS1 2682 2013 10.3 44.2 13.5 70.4 Spiked with DenV3 NS1 2666 1911 11.0 48.4 14.4 77.0 Spiked with DenV4 NS1 2904 2320 0.891 31.6 1.2 50.3

TABLE 2b SS-ZIKA-NS1- S-ZIKA-NS1- SS-ZIKA-NS1- S-ZIKA-NS1- SS-ZIKA-NS1- S-ZIKA-NS1- wing ß-ladder wing ß-ladder wing ß-ladder Normalized Normalized Sample 16CDV61275 counts counts Blocking [%] Blocking [%] to Zika to Zika 1:10 pre-diluted 3280 3486 Blocking [%] Blocking [%] Spiked with ZIKV NS1 920 825 86.7 94.2 100.0 100.0 Spiked with WNV NS1 2596 2154 25.1 47.1 29.0 50.1 Spiked with YFV NS1 3154 3257 4.63 8.10 5.3 8.6 Spiked with JEV NS1 3095 3198 6.80 10.2 7.8 10.8 Normalized Normalized Sample 16CDV61278 counts counts Blocking [%] Blocking [%] to Zika to Zika 1:20 pre-diluted 2920 3314 Blocking [%] Blocking [%] Spiked with ZIKV NS1 1098 1601 77.1 64.5 100.0 100.0 Spiked with WNV NS1 2711 2477 8.85 31.5 11.5 48.9 Spiked with YFV NS1 2651 3093 11.4 8.33 14.8 12.9 Spiked with JEV NS1 2885 2835 1.48 18.0 1.9 28.0 Normalized Normalized Sample 16CDV61197 counts counts Blocking [%] Blocking [%] to Zika to Zika 1:10 pre-diluted 2745 2989 Blocking [%] Blocking [%] Spiked with ZIKV NS1 1403 1528 61.3 62.7 100.0 100.0 Spiked with WNV NS1 2626 2551 5.44 18.8 8.9 30.0 Spiked with YFV NS1 2664 2844 3.70 6.23 6.0 9.9 Spiked with JEV NS1 2549 2704 8.96 12.2 14.6 19.5

Explanation of Acronyms

ZIKV=Zika virus

DENV1=Dengue Virus Type 1

DENV2=Dengue Virus Type 2

DENV3=Dengue Virus Type 3

DENV4=Dengue Virus Type 4

WNV=West Nile Virus

JEV=Japanese Encephalitis Virus

YFV=Yellow Fever Virus

TBEV=Tick Borne Encephalitis Virus (=FSME Virus) 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A polypeptide suitable for detecting antibodies against Zika virus in an isolated biological sample comprising a Zika virus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence, wherein no amino acid sequences from the Zika virus NS1 ß-ladder domain are present in said polypeptide, wherein said polypeptide is fused to a chaperone.
 2. A polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein said Zika virus NS1 wing domain specific amino acid sequence comprises SEQ ID NO. 1 or 2 and wherein no amino acid sequences from the Zika virus NS1 ß-ladder domain are present in said polypeptide.
 3. A polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein no further Zika virus specific amino acid sequences are present in said polypeptide.
 4. A polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein said chaperone is selected from the group consisting of SlyD, SlpA, FkpA and Skp.
 5. A polypeptide according to claim 4 consisting of SEQ ID NO:21.
 6. A polypeptide according to claim 1, wherein in an immunoassay for detecting antibodies against Zika virus, said Zika NS1 polypeptide does not immunologically cross-react with antibodies raised against structurally related antigens from tick-borne encephalitis virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs: 5 or 6, and/or from Dengue virus 1-4 comprising any of SEQ ID NOs: 7-14, and/or from West Nile virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs: 15 or 16, and/or from yellow fever virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs: 17 or 18, and/or from Japanese encephalitis virus comprising any of SEQ ID NOs: 19 to 20, but immunologically reacts with antibodies raised against full length Zika virus NS1 polypeptide according to SEQ ID NO:
 3. 7. A method of producing a soluble and immunoreactive Zika virus NS1 wing domain polypeptide, said method comprising the steps of a) culturing host cells transformed with an expression vector comprising operably linked a recombinant DNA molecule encoding a Zika virus NS1 wing domain polypeptide according to claim 1, b) expression of said Zika virus NS1 polypeptide and c) purification of said Zika virus NS1 polypeptide.
 8. A method for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in an isolated sample said method comprising a) forming an immunoreaction admixture by admixing a body fluid sample with a Zika virus polypeptide according to claim 1; b) maintaining said immunoreaction admixture for a time period sufficient for allowing antibodies present in the body fluid sample against said Zika virus polypeptide to immunoreact with said Zika virus polypeptide to form an immunoreaction product; and c) detecting the presence and/or the concentration of any of said immunoreaction product.
 9. The method for detecting antibodies specific for Zika virus in an isolated sample according to claim 8, wherein the detected antibody is an IgG or IgM antibody. 